Yogi is 7 months old. Weighing in at 65 lbs and rambunctious, I decided to borrow a friends prong collar she suggested (she has a GSD/chow). I got talked to several times about how inhumane they are whenever I took him anywhere. I did a lot of research on placement of the collar, techniques to use, and how to use it (only for training obviously)... If he responds well with it on, what's the issue? He only needed a couple of corrections and behaves very well with it. Without it, he responds well at home but as soon as I take him out he's a crazy dog. Strong dog for my 100 lb self. So now I'm questioning myself here. I've been using positive reinforcement training with great results but when it comes to public, I feel embarrassed because he acts out of control. Why would this be? And am I doing this wrong? I feel like a failure. Also, in public places he's perfect with treats. If I don't have those or the prong he acts completely defiant. Is this normal? Please be gentle...

Very normal. He has more drive than most other breeds. Besides, a small correction on a prong is more humane than a large correction on a flat collar. Mine is almost 7 months and I am starting to use the prong on him. I feel now he knows what he is doing wrong, so small corrections will make life easier for both of us. You are doing nothing wrong. So glad he is doing well.

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Jason

Albus "Dobby" Van Meerhout

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In the end you have to use what works. He's at the age where they really start feeling their oats and will push boundaries, Delgado was 9 months before I bought a prong and the timing couldn't have been better. He knew what I was asking, the obedience was already there so the prong just reminded him I mean business. It never meant I stopped training or fully relied on it, it was a backup mostly

He still wears it on walks around town though truly 95% of the time the flat would work just fine, he wears it for the 5% chance that something may go wrong and I don't want to be caught unprepared.

In obedience classes we have used every type collar ever invented. Prong collars are very effective and safe if used correctly. Small corrections usually are all that is needed. Stay the course and use what works best for you and your dog. Just remember to NEVER leave the prong collar on the dog unattended. IMHO, Bob

Prongs used properly are very humane you use them to create behaviors and maintain behaviors not to restrain dogs. You don't have to yank and crank to get desired results. There are times you can use them to punish for lack of attention or acting like a hoodlum but that comes after using negative reinforcement to teach. 7 months old already so now its time for the dog to grow up and just get it done.

Ignore everyone's negative comments out and about.... your dog your way....I have never used a prong but I have yet to have a high drive breed like a GSD.....I will use one with Abby if it is needed....but only after I am trained to use it...lol.

I just started using a prong collar on Willow. She is 11 months old. She does well with out it in class, in our yard but when going for a walk she acts like a brat. She was even trying to take the leash away from me. Very first walk using the prong worked like a charm. Didn't have to correct her she corrected herself.

The other thing is if you reward with food, toy, or are using negative reinforcement with a tool like a prong you need to do a better job of fading those things out. What youre discovering unintentionally is something any dog trainer worth his weight in salt knows. A dog carries out a behavior not because they like you or have respect for your alphaness. Its because there is an advantage for them to do so or disadvantage for them to disobey.

You can hide rewards in training and with an eventual randomized reward schedule (worked up to gradually) you can get a lot done. Its hard to hide food rewards because the dogs know by smell if theyre on you or not. If thats the only thing giving him incentive to behave and he knows he cant win them guess what? All bets are off. Toys are easier to hide but youd need the dog to be so into playing the game you play with it under distraction and to return it to you when you ask or the dog just wins the toy and runs off with it in his mouth.

Thats why i use negative reinforcement and punishment because i can always do that even with no tools. If i dont have a prong on the dog or an e collar i can use my hand or my leg or my car keys. The dog knows if i carry out behavior something good might happen but if i dont something unpleasant will definitely happen.

I just started using a prong collar on Willow. She is 11 months old. She does well with out it in class, in our yard but when going for a walk she acts like a brat. She was even trying to take the leash away from me. Very first walk using the prong worked like a charm. Didn't have to correct her she corrected herself.

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